Spiro-lactam NMDA receptor modulators and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are compounds having enhanced potency in the modulation of NMDA receptor activity. Such compounds are contemplated for use in the treatment of conditions such as depression and related disorders. Orally available formulations and other pharmaceutically acceptable delivery forms of the compounds, including intravenous formulations, are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation patent application under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/636,888, filed on Jun. 29, 2017, which application is a continuation patent application of International Application No. PCT/US2017/033326, filed on May 18, 2017, which application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/338,772, filed on May 19, 2016; the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

An N-methyl-d-aspartate (“NMDA”) receptor is a postsynaptic, ionotropic receptor that is responsive to, inter alia, the excitatory amino acids glutamate and glycine and the synthetic compound NMDA. The NMDA receptor controls the flow of both divalent and monovalent ions into the postsynaptic neural cell through a receptor associated channel (Foster et al., Nature 1987, 329:395-396; Mayer et al., Trends in Pharmacol. Sci. 1990, 11:254-260). The NMDA receptor has been implicated during development in specifying neuronal architecture and synaptic connectivity, and may be involved in experience-dependent synaptic modifications. In addition, NMDA receptors are also thought to be involved in long term potentiation and central nervous system disorders.

The NMDA receptor plays a major role in the synaptic plasticity that underlies many higher cognitive functions, such as memory acquisition, retention and learning, as well as in certain cognitive pathways and in the perception of pain (Collingridge et al., The NMDA Receptor, Oxford University Press, 1994). In addition, certain properties of NMDA receptors suggest that they may be involved in the information-processing in the brain that underlies consciousness itself.

The NMDA receptor has drawn particular interest since it appears to be involved in a broad spectrum of CNS disorders. For instance, during brain ischemia caused by stroke or traumatic injury, excessive amounts of the excitatory amino acid glutamate are released from damaged or oxygen deprived neurons. This excess glutamate binds to the NMDA receptors which opens their ligand-gated ion channels; in turn the calcium influx produces a high level of intracellular calcium which activates a biochemical cascade resulting in protein degradation and cell death. This phenomenon, known as excitotoxicity, is also thought to be responsible for the neurological damage associated with other disorders ranging from hypoglycemia and cardiac arrest to epilepsy. In addition, there are preliminary reports indicating similar involvement in the chronic neurodegeneration of Huntington's, Parkinson's and Parkinson's related conditions such as dyskinesia and L-dopa induced dyskinesia and Alzheimer's diseases. Activation of the NMDA receptor has been shown to be responsible for post-stroke convulsions, and, in certain models of epilepsy, activation of the NMDA receptor has been shown to be necessary for the generation of seizures. Neuropsychiatric involvement of the NMDA receptor has also been recognized since blockage of the NMDA receptor Ca⁺⁺ channel by the animal anesthetic PCP (phencyclidine) produces a psychotic state in humans similar to schizophrenia (reviewed in Johnson, K. and Jones. S., 1990). Further, NMDA receptors have also been implicated in certain types of spatial learning.

The NMDA receptor is believed to consist of several protein chains embedded in the postsynaptic membrane. The first two types of subunits discovered so far form a large extracellular region, which probably contains most of the allosteric binding sites, several transmembrane regions looped and folded so as to form a pore or channel, which is permeable to Ca⁺⁺, and a carboxyl terminal region. The opening and closing of the channel is regulated by the binding of various ligands to domains (allosteric sites) of the protein residing on the extracellular surface. The binding of the ligands is thought to affect a conformational change in the overall structure of the protein which is ultimately reflected in the channel opening, partially opening, partially closing, or closing.

NMDA receptor compounds may exert dual (agonist/antagonist) effect on the NMDA receptor through the allosteric sites. These compounds are typically termed “functional partial agonists”. In the presence of the principal site ligand, a partial agonist will displace some of the ligand and thus decrease Ca⁺⁺ flow through the receptor. In the absence of or lowered level of the principal site ligand, the partial agonist acts to increase Ca⁺⁺ flow through the receptor channel.

A need continues to exist in the art for novel and more specific/potent compounds that are capable of binding the glycine binding site of NMDA receptors, and provide pharmaceutical benefits. In addition, a need continues to exist in the medical arts for orally deliverable forms of such compounds.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides compounds that can be NMDA modulators, for example, partial agonists of NMDA. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a compound having the formula:

or a stereoisomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R^(S) is C₁-C₃ alkyl; w is 0, 1 or 2; R^(b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆alkyl.

Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions including a disclosed compound; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Such a composition can be suitable for oral or intravenous administration to a patient.

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein bind to NMDA receptor subtypes. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein bind to one subtype and not another.

In another aspect, a method of treating a condition selected from the group consisting of autism, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, a psychotic disorder, a psychotic symptom, social withdrawal, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress syndrome, a behavior disorder, an impulse control disorder, a substance abuse disorder, a sleep disorder, a memory disorder, a learning disorder, urinary incontinence, multiple system atrophy, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, Friedrich's ataxia, Down's syndrome, fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, olivio-ponto-cerebellar atrophy, cerebral palsy, drug-induced optic neuritis, ischemic retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, dementia, AIDS dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, spasticity, myoclonus, muscle spasm, Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, stroke, a brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, myelopathy, spinal cord injury, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, acute neuropathic pain, and chronic neuropathic pain, in a patient in need thereof is provided. Such methods can include administering to a patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of a disclosed compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a stereoisomer, an N-oxides, and/or a hydrate thereof.

In some embodiments, a method includes treating depression. For example, depression can include one or more of major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, or depression caused by a chronic medical condition. In certain embodiments, a method can treat schizophrenia. Such schizophrenia can be paranoid type schizophrenia, disorganized type schizophrenia, catatonic type schizophrenia, undifferentiated type schizophrenia, residual type schizophrenia, post-schizophrenic depression, or simple schizophrenia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the mean 50-kHz USV data for compound BB in a positive emotional learning (PEL) model.

FIG. 2A depicts the potentiation of [3H]MK-801 binding for wild-type NMDAR2 subtypes for compound AA.

FIG. 2B depicts the potentiation of [3H]MK-801 binding for wild-type NMDAR2 subtypes for compound BB.

FIG. 3A depicts the mean plasma concentration-time profile of compound AA following a single intraveneous (2 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats.

FIG. 3B depicts the mean plasma concentration-time profile of compound BB following a single intraveneous (2 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats.

FIG. 4 depicts the mean plasma, brain, and CSF concentration-time profile of compound BB following a single oral (10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats.

FIG. 5 depicts the results from the in vitro micronucleus, Ames, and hERG assays for compound BB.

FIG. 6 depicts the reversed blast-induced cognitive deficits as measured by PEL for compound BB.

FIG. 7 depicts the results for the novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) test in rats for compound BB.

FIG. 8 depicts the the analgesic effects of compound BB.

FIG. 9A depicts the results from the Porsolt forced swim test for compound BB.

FIG. 9B depicts the results from the Porsolt forced swim test for compound AA.

FIG. 10 depicts long term potentiation for compound BB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is generally directed to compounds that are capable of modulating NMDA, for example, NMDA antagonists or partial agonists, and compositions and/or methods of using the disclosed compounds. It should be appreciated that the disclosed compounds may modulate other protein targets and/or NMDA receptor subtypes.

The term “alkyl,” as used herein, refers to a saturated straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon, such as a straight-chain or branched group of 1-6, 1-4, or 1-3 carbon atoms, referred to herein as C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₁-C₃ alkyl, respectively. For example, “C₁-C₆ alkyl” refers to a straight-chain or branched saturated hydrocarbon containing 1-6 carbon atoms. Examples of a C₁-C₆ alkyl group include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isopentyl, and neopentyl. Exemplary alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-methyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-2-propyl, 2-methyl-1-butyl, 3-methyl-1-butyl, 3-methyl-2-butyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-1-pentyl, 3-methyl-1-pentyl, 4-methyl-1-pentyl, 2-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-methyl-2-pentyl, 4-methyl-2-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-butyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl, 2-ethyl-1-butyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, and hexyl.

The term “cyano,” as used herein, refers to the radical —CN.

The terms “halo” or “halogen,” as used herein, refer to fluoro (F), chloro (Cl), bromo (Br), and/or iodo (I).

The terms “hydroxy” and “hydroxyl,” as used herein, refer to the radical —OH.

The term “compound,” as used herein, refers to the compound itself and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, esters and N-oxides including its various stereoisomers and its isotopically-labelled forms, unless otherwise understood from the context of the description or expressly limited to one particular form of the compound, i.e., the compound itself, a specific stereoisomer and/or isotopically-labelled compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a hydrate, an ester, or an N-oxide thereof. It should be understood that a compound can refer to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a hydrate, an ester or an N-oxide of a stereoisomer of the compound and/or an isotopically-labelled compound.

The term “moiety,” as used herein, refers to a portion of a compound or molecule.

The compounds of the disclosure can contain one or more chiral centers and/or double bonds and therefore, can exist as stereoisomers, such as geometric isomers, and enantiomers or diastereomers. The term “stereoisomers,” when used herein, consists of all geometric isomers, enantiomers and/or diastereomers of the compound. For example, when a compound is shown with specific chiral center(s), the compound depicted without such chirality at that and other chiral centers of the compound are within the scope of the present disclosure, i.e., the compound depicted in two-dimensions with “flat” or “straight” bonds rather than in three dimensions, for example, with solid or dashed wedge bonds. Stereospecific compounds may be designated by the symbols “R” or “S,” depending on the configuration of substituents around the stereogenic carbon atom. The present disclosure encompasses all the various stereoisomers of these compounds and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers can be designated “(±)” in nomenclature, but a skilled artisan will recognize that a structure can denote a chiral center implicitly. It is understood that graphical depictions of chemical structures, e.g., generic chemical structures, encompass all stereoisomeric forms of the specified compounds, unless indicated otherwise.

As discussed herein, the compounds of the present disclosure can have a plurality of chiral centers. Each chiral center can be independently R, S, or any mixture of R and S. For example, in some embodiments, a chiral center can have an R:S ratio of between about 100:0 and about 50:50 (“racemate”), between about 100:0 and about 75:25, between about 100:0 and about 85:15, between about 100:0 and about 90:10, between about 100:0 and about 95:5, between about 100:0 and about 98:2, between about 100:0 and about 99:1, between about 0:100 and 50:50, between about 0:100 and about 25:75, between about 0:100 and about 15:85, between about 0:100 and about 10:90, between about 0:100 and about 5:95, between about 0:100 and about 2:98, between about 0:100 and about 1:99, between about 75:25 and 25:75, or about 50:50. Formulations of the disclosed compounds comprising a greater ratio of one or more isomers (i.e., R and/or S) may possess enhanced therapeutic characteristic relative to racemic formulations of a disclosed compounds or mixture of compounds.

Individual enantiomers and diastereomers of compounds of the present disclosure can be prepared synthetically from commercially available starting materials that contain asymmetric or stereogenic centers, or by preparation of racemic mixtures followed by resolution methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These methods of resolution are exemplified by (1) attachment of a mixture of enantiomers to a chiral auxiliary, separation of the resulting mixture of diastereomers by recrystallization or chromatography and liberation of the optically pure product from the auxiliary, (2) salt formation employing an optically active resolving agent, (3) direct separation of the mixture of optical enantiomers on chiral liquid chromatographic columns, or (4) kinetic resolution using stereoselective chemical or enzymatic reagents. Racemic mixtures also can be resolved into their component enantiomers by well-known methods, such as chiral-phase gas chromatography or crystallizing the compound in a chiral solvent. Stereoselective syntheses, a chemical or enzymatic reaction in which a single reactant forms an unequal mixture of stereoisomers during the creation of a new stereocenter or during the transformation of a pre-existing one, are well known in the art. Stereoselective syntheses encompass both enantio- and diastereoselective transformations. See, for example, Carreira and Kvaerno, Classics in Stereoselective Synthesis, Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, 2009.

Geometric isomers, resulting from the arrangement of substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond or arrangement of substituents around a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, can also exist in the compounds of the present disclosure. The symbol

denotes a bond that may be a single, double or triple bond as described herein. Substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond are designated as being in the “Z” or “E” configuration, where the terms “Z” and “E” are used in accordance with IUPAC standards. Unless otherwise specified, structures depicting double bonds encompass both the “E” and “Z” isomers.

Substituents around a carbon-carbon double bond alternatively can be referred to as “cis” or “trans,” where “cis” represents substituents on the same side of the double bond and “trans” represents substituents on opposite sides of the double bond. The arrangement of substituents around a carbocyclic ring can also be designated as “cis” or “trans.” The term “cis” represents substituents on the same side of the plane of the ring and the term “trans” represents substituents on opposite sides of the plane of the ring. Mixtures of compounds wherein the substituents are disposed on both the same and opposite sides of plane of the ring are designated “cis/trans.”

The disclosure also embraces isotopically-labeled compounds which are identical to those compounds recited herein, except that one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into compounds described herein include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, fluorine and chlorine, such as ²H (“D”), ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³¹P, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F, and ³⁶Cl, respectively. For example, a compound described herein can have one or more H atoms replaced with deuterium.

Certain isotopically-labeled compounds (e.g., those labeled with ³H and ¹⁴C) can be useful in compound and/or substrate tissue distribution assays. Tritiated (i.e., ³H) and carbon-14 (i.e., ¹⁴C) isotopes can be particularly preferred for their ease of preparation and detectability. Further, substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium (i.e., ²H) can afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability (e.g., increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements) and hence can be preferred in some circumstances. Isotopically-labeled compounds can generally be prepared by following procedures analogous to those disclosed herein, for example, in the Examples section, by substituting an isotopically-labeled reagent for a non-isotopically-labeled reagent.

The phrases “pharmaceutically acceptable” or “pharmacologically acceptable,” as used herein, refer to compounds, molecular entities, compositions, materials and/or dosage forms that do not produce an adverse, allergic or other untoward reaction when administered to an animal, or a human, as appropriate. For human administration, preparations should meet sterility, pyrogenicity, general safety and purity standards as required by FDA Office of Biologics standards.

The phrases “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” and “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,” as used herein, refer to any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, that are compatible with pharmaceutical administration, Pharmaceutical acceptable carriers can include phosphate buffered saline solution, water, emulsions (e.g., such as an oil/water or water/oil emulsions), and various types of wetting agents. The compositions also can include stabilizers and preservatives.

The phrase “pharmaceutical composition,” as used herein, refers to a composition comprising at least one compound as disclosed herein formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Pharmaceutical compositions can also contain other active compounds providing supplemental, additional, or enhanced therapeutic functions.

The terms “individual,” “patient,” and “subject,” as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any animal, including mammals, preferably mice, rats, other rodents, rabbits, dogs, cats, swine, cattle, sheep, horses, or primates, and more preferably, humans. The compounds described in the disclosure can be administered to a mammal, such as a human, but can also be administered to other mammals such as an animal in need of veterinary treatment, for example, domestic animals (e.g., dogs, cats, and the like), farm animals (e.g., cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and the like) and laboratory animals (e.g., rats, mice, guinea pigs, and the like). The mammal treated in the methods described in the disclosure is preferably a mammal in which treatment, for example, of pain or depression is desired.

The term “treating,” as used herein, includes any effect, for example, lessening, reducing, modulating, ameliorating, or eliminating, that results in the improvement of the condition, disease, disorder, and the like, including one or more symptoms thereof. Treating can be curing, improving, or at least partially ameliorating the disorder.

The term “disorder” refers to and is used interchangeably with, the terms “disease,” “condition,” or “illness,” unless otherwise indicated.

The term “modulation,” as used herein, refers to and includes antagonism (e.g., inhibition), agonism, partial antagonism, and/or partial agonism.

The phrases “pharmaceutically effective amount” and “therapeutically effective amount,” as used herein, refer to the amount of a compound (e.g., a disclosed compound) that will elicit the biological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. The compounds described in the disclosure can be administered in therapeutically effective amounts to treat a disease. A therapeutically effective amount of a compound can be the quantity required to achieve a desired therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect, such as an amount which results in lessening of a symptom of a disease or disorder such as depression.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s),” as used herein, refers to salt(s) of acidic or basic groups that can be present in compounds of the disclosure and/or used in the compositions of the disclosure. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt (e.g., acid or base) of a compound of the present disclosure, upon administration to a patient, is capable of providing a compound of this invention or an active metabolite or residue thereof.

Compounds included in the present compositions that are basic in nature are capable of forming a wide variety of salts with various inorganic and organic acids. The acids that can be used to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of such basic compounds are those that form non-toxic acid addition salts, i.e., salts containing pharmacologically acceptable anions, including but not limited to malate, oxalate, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, acid phosphate, isonicotinate, acetate, lactate, salicylate, citrate, tartrate, oleate, tannate, pantothenate, bitartrate, ascorbate, succinate, maleate, gentisinate, fumarate, gluconate, glucaronate, saccharate, formate, benzoate, glutamate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate and pamoate (i.e., 1,1′-methylene-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate)) salts. Compounds included in the present compositions that are acidic in nature are capable of forming base salts with various pharmacologically acceptable cations. Examples of such salts include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts and, particularly, calcium, magnesium, sodium, lithium, zinc, potassium, and iron salts. Compounds included in the present compositions that include a basic or acidic moiety may also form pharmaceutically acceptable salts with various amino acids. The compounds of the disclosure may contain both acidic and basic groups, for example, one amino and one carboxylic acid group. In such a case, the compound can exist as an acid addition salt, a zwitterion, or a base salt.

The compounds disclosed herein can exist in a solvated form as well as an unsolvated form with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol, and the like, and it is intended that the disclosure embrace both solvated and unsolvated forms. In some embodiments, the compound is amorphous. In certain embodiments, the compound is a single polymorph. In various embodiments, the compound is a mixture of polymorphs. In particular embodiments, the compound is in a crystalline form.

The term “prodrug,” as used herein, refers to compounds that are transformed in vivo to yield a disclosed compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate of the compound. The transformation can occur by various mechanisms (such as by esterase, amidase, phosphatase, oxidative and or reductive metabolism) in various locations (such as in the intestinal lumen or upon transit into the intestine, blood or liver). Prodrugs are well known in the art (see, e.g., Rautio, Kumpulainen, et al., Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2008, 7, 255). For example, if a compound described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate of the compound contains a carboxylic acid functional group, a prodrug can be an ester formed by the replacement of the hydrogen atom of the carboxylic acid group with a group such as (C₁-C₈)alkyl, (C₂-C₁₂)alkanoyloxymethyl, 1-(alkanoyloxy)ethyl having from 4 to 9 carbon atoms, 1-methyl-1-(alkanoyloxy)-ethyl having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, 1-(alkoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, 1-methyl-1-(alkoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, N-(alkoxycarbonyl)aminomethyl having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms, 1-(N-(alkoxycarbonyl)amino)ethyl having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, 3-phthalidyl, 4-crotonolactonyl, gamma-butyrolacton-4-yl, di-N,N—(C₁-C₂)alkylamino(C₂-C₃)alkyl (such as β-dimethylaminoethyl), carbamoyl-(C₁-C₂)alkyl, N,N-di(C₁-C₂)alkylcarbamoyl-(C₁-C₂)alkyl, piperidino-(C₂-C₃)alkyl, pyrrolidino-(C₂-C₃)alkyl, or morpholino-(C₂-C₃)alkyl.

Similarly, if a compound described herein contains an alcohol functional group, a prodrug can be formed by the replacement of the hydrogen atom of the alcohol group with a group such as (C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxymethyl, 1-((C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxy)ethyl, 1-methyl-1-((C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxy)ethyl (C₁-C₆)alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl, N—(C₁-C₆)alkoxycarbonylaminomethyl, succinoyl, (C₁-C₆)alkanoyl, α-amino(C₁-C₄)alkanoyl, arylacyl and α-aminoacyl, or α-aminoacyl-α-aminoacyl, where each α-aminoacyl group is independently selected from the naturally occurring L-amino acids, P(O)(OH)₂, —P(O)(O(C₁-C₆)alkyl)₂ or glycosyl (the radical resulting from the removal of a hydroxyl group of the hemiacetal form of a carbohydrate).

If a compound described herein incorporates an amine functional group, a prodrug can be formed, for example, by creation of an amide or carbamate, an N-acyloxyalkyl derivative, an (oxodioxolenyl) methyl derivative, an N-Mannich base, imine or enamine. In addition, a secondary amine can be metabolically cleaved to generate a bioactive primary amine, or a tertiary amine can metabolically cleaved to generate a bioactive primary or secondary amine. See, for example, Simplicio, et al., Molecules 2008, 13, 519 and references therein.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

Throughout the description, where compositions and kits are described as having, including, or comprising specific components, or where processes and methods are described as having, including, or comprising specific steps, it is contemplated that, additionally, there are compositions and kits of the present disclosure that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited components, and that there are processes and methods according to the present disclosure that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited processing steps.

In the application, where an element or component is said to be included in and/or selected from a list of recited elements or components, it should be understood that the element or component can be any one of the recited elements or components, or the element or component can be selected from a group consisting of two or more of the recited elements or components.

Further, it should be understood that elements and/or features of a composition or a method described herein can be combined in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, whether explicit or implicit herein. For example, where reference is made to a particular compound, that compound can be used in various embodiments of compositions of the present disclosure and/or in methods of the present disclosure, unless otherwise understood from the context. In other words, within this application, embodiments have been described and depicted in a way that enables a clear and concise application to be written and drawn, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments can be variously combined or separated without parting from the present teachings and disclosure(s). For example, it will be appreciated that all features described and depicted herein can be applicable to all aspects of the disclosure(s) described and depicted herein.

The articles “a” and “an” are used in this disclosure to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article, unless the context is inappropriate. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

The term “and/or” is used in this disclosure to mean either “and” or “or” unless indicated otherwise.

It should be understood that the expression “at least one of” includes individually each of the recited objects after the expression and the various combinations of two or more of the recited objects unless otherwise understood from the context and use. The expression “and/or” in connection with three or more recited objects should be understood to have the same meaning unless otherwise understood from the context.

The use of the term “include,” “includes,” “including,” “have,” “has,” “having,” “contain,” “contains,” or “containing,” including grammatical equivalents thereof, should be understood generally as open-ended and non-limiting, for example, not excluding additional unrecited elements or steps, unless otherwise specifically stated or understood from the context.

Where the use of the term “about” is before a quantitative value, the present disclosure also include the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “about” refers to a ±10% variation from the nominal value unless otherwise indicated or inferred.

Where a percentage is provided with respect to an amount of a component or material in a composition, the percentage should be understood to be a percentage based on weight, unless otherwise stated or understood from the context.

Where a molecular weight is provided and not an absolute value, for example, of a polymer, then the molecular weight should be understood to be an average molecule weight, unless otherwise stated or understood from the context.

It should be understood that the order of steps or order for performing certain actions is immaterial so long as the present disclosure remain operable. Moreover, two or more steps or actions can be conducted simultaneously.

At various places in the present specification, substituents are disclosed in groups or in ranges. It is specifically intended that the description include each and every individual subcombination of the members of such groups and ranges. For example, the term “C₁₋₆ alkyl” is specifically intended to individually disclose C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄, C₅, C₆, C₁-C₆, C₁-C₅, C₁-C₄, C₁-C₃, C₁-C₂, C₂-C₆, C₂-C₅, C₂-C₄, C₂-C₃, C₃-C₆, C₃-C₅, C₃-C₄, C₄-C₆, C₄-C₅, and C₅-C₆ alkyl. By way of other examples, an integer in the range of 0 to 40 is specifically intended to individually disclose 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40, and an integer in the range of 1 to 20 is specifically intended to individually disclose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. Additional examples include that the phrase “optionally substituted with 1-5 substituents” is specifically intended to individually disclose a chemical group that can include 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0-5, 0-4, 0-3, 0-2, 0-1, 1-5, 1-4, 1-3, 1-2, 2-5, 2-4, 2-3, 3-5, 3-4, and 4-5 substituents.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language herein, for example, “such as” or “including,” is intended merely to illustrate better the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the present disclosure.

Further, if a variable is not accompanied by a definition, then the variable is defined as found elsewhere in the disclosure unless understood to be different from the context. In addition, the definition of each variable and/or substituent, for example, C₁-C₆ alkyl, R², R^(b), w and the like, when it occurs more than once in any structure or compound, can be independent of its definition elsewhere in the same structure or compound.

Definitions of the variables and/or substituents in formulae and/or compounds herein encompass multiple chemical groups. The present disclosure includes embodiments where, for example, i) the definition of a variable and/or substituent is a single chemical group selected from those chemical groups set forth herein, ii) the definition is a collection of two or more of the chemical groups selected from those set forth herein, and iii) the compound is defined by a combination of variables and/or substituents in which the variables and/or substituents are defined by (i) or (ii).

Various aspects of the disclosure are set forth herein under headings and/or in sections for clarity; however, it is understood that all aspects, embodiments, or features of the disclosure described in one particular section are not to be limited to that particular section but rather can apply to any aspect, embodiment, or feature of the present disclosure.

Compounds

Disclosed compounds include a compound having the formula:

or a stereoisomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R^(S) is C₁₋₃alkyl; w is 0, 1 or 2; R^(b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; and R² is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R^(b) is hydrogen. In certain embodiments, R² is C1-C6 alkyl, for example, methyl (CH3).

In some embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen. In certain embodiments, R¹ is C1-C6 alkyl, for example, methyl (CH3).

In some embodiments, R² is hydrogen. In certain embodiments, R² is C1-C6 alkyl, for example, methyl (CH₃).

In some embodiments, w is 2. In certain embodiments, w is 1.

In some embodiments, R^(S) is methyl.

In some embodiments, R¹, R^(b), and R² are each hydrogen in compounds described herein.

In some embodiments, the compound is selected from the compounds delineated in the Examples.

In certain embodiments, a disclosed compound has the formula:

or a stereoisomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In various embodiments, a disclosed compound has the formula:

or a stereoisomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In certain embodiments, a disclosed compound has the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In certain embodiments, a disclosed compound has the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Disclosed compounds may provide for efficient cation channel opening at the NMDA receptor, e.g. may bind or associate with the glutamate site of the NMDA receptor to assist in opening the cation channel. The disclosed compounds may be used to regulate (turn on or turn off) the NMDA receptor through action as an agonist.

The compounds described herein, in some embodiments, bind to a specific NMDA receptor subtypes. For example, a disclosed compound may bind to one NMDA subtype and not another. In certain embodiments, a disclosed compound may bind to one, or more than one NMDA subtype, and/or e.g. may have substantially less (or substantial no) binding activity to certain other NMDA subtypes. For example, in some embodiments, a disclosed compound (e.g., compound BB) binds to NR2B or NR2D with substantially no binding to NR2A or NR2C.

The compounds as described herein may be glycine site NMDA receptor partial agonists. A partial agonist as used in this context will be understood to mean that at a low concentration, the analog acts as an agonist and at a high concentration, the analog acts as an antagonist. Glycine binding is not inhibited by glutamate or by competitive inhibitors of glutamate, and also does not bind at the same site as glutamate on the NMDA receptor. A second and separate binding site for glycine exists at the NMDA receptor. The ligand-gated ion channel of the NMDA receptor is, thus, under the control of at least these two distinct allosteric sites. Disclosed compounds may be capable of binding or associating with the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor. In some embodiments, disclosed compounds may possess a potency that is 10-fold or greater than the activity of existing NMDA receptor glycine site partial agonists.

The disclosed compounds may exhibit a high therapeutic index. The therapeutic index, as used herein, refers to the ratio of the dose that produces a toxicity in 50% of the population (i.e., TD₅₀) to the minimum effective dose for 50% of the population (i.e., ED₅₀). Thus, the therapeutic index=(TD₅₀):(ED₅₀). In some embodiments, a disclosed compound may have a therapeutic index of at least about 10:1, at least about 50:1, at least about 100:1, at least about 200:1, at least about 500:1, or at least about 1000:1.

Compositions

In other aspects, formulations and compositions comprising a disclosed compound and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient are provided. In some embodiments, a formulation includes a racemic mixture of one or more of the disclosed compounds.

Formulations can be prepared in any of a variety of forms for use. By way of example, and not limitation, the compounds may be prepared in a formulation suitable for oral administration, subcutaneous injection, or other methods for administering an active agent to a patient, who may be in need thereof, as are known in the pharmaceutical arts. For example, pharmaceutical compositions of the disclosure can be suitable for delivery to the eye. Related methods can include administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a disclosed compound or a pharmaceutical composition including a disclosed compound to a patient in need thereof, for example, to an eye of the patient, where administering can be topically, subconjunctivally, subtenonly, intravitreally, retrobulbarly, peribulbarly, intracomerally, and/or systemically.

Amounts of a disclosed compound as described herein in a formulation may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual. Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, a single bolus may be administered, several divided doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation. It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier.

The specification for the dosage unit forms are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the compound selected and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of sensitivity in individuals.

Therapeutic compositions typically must be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage. The composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, liposome, or other ordered structure suitable to high drug concentration. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, monostearate salts and gelatin.

The compounds can be administered in a time release formulation, for example in a composition which includes a slow release polymer. The compounds can be prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid release, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, polylactic acid and polylactic, polyglycolic copolymers (PLG). Many methods for the preparation of such formulations are generally known to those skilled in the art.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

In accordance with an alternative aspect, a compound may be formulated with one or more additional compounds that enhance the solubility of the compound.

Methods

Methods for treating a condition in a patient in need thereof by administering a therapeutically effective amount or dose of a compound described herein are provided. In some embodiments, the condition can be a mental condition. For example, a mental illness can be treated. In another aspect, a nervous system condition can be treated. For example, a condition that affects the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and/or the eye can be treated. In some embodiments, neurodegenerative diseases can be treated.

In some embodiments, the methods include administering a compound to treat patients suffering from autism, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, a psychotic disorder, a psychotic symptom, social withdrawal, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobia, post-traumatic stress syndrome, a behavior disorder, an impulse control disorder, a substance abuse disorder (e.g., a withdrawal symptom, opiate addiction, nicotine addiction, and ethanol addition), a sleep disorder, a memory disorder (e.g., a deficit, loss, or reduced ability to make new memories), a learning disorder, urinary incontinence, multiple system atrophy, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, Friedrich's ataxia, Down's syndrome, fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, olivio-ponto-cerebellar atrophy, cerebral palsy, drug-induced optic neuritis, ischemic retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, dementia, AIDS dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, spasticity, myoclonus, muscle spasm, infantile spasm, Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, stroke, a brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, myelopathy, spinal cord injury, peripheral neuropathy, acute neuropathic pain, and chronic neuropathic pain.

In some embodiments, methods of treating a memory disorder associated with aging, schizophrenia, special learning disorders, seizures, post-stroke convulsions, brain ischemia, hypoglycemia, cardiac arrest, epilepsy, Lewy body dementia, migraine, AIDS dementia, Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's disease, early stage Alzheimer's disease, and Alzheimer's disease are provided.

In certain embodiments, methods for treating schizophrenia are provided. For example, paranoid type schizophrenia, disorganized type schizophrenia (i.e., hebephrenic schizophrenia), catatonic type schizophrenia, undifferentiated type schizophrenia, residual type schizophrenia, post-schizophrenic depression, and simple schizophrenia may be treated using the methods and compositions described herein. Psychotic disorders such as schizoaffective disorders, delusional disorders, brief psychotic disorders, shared psychotic disorders, and psychotic disorders with delusions or hallucinations may also be treated using the compositions described herein.

Paranoid schizophrenia may be characterized where delusions or auditory hallucinations are present, but thought disorder, disorganized behavior, or affective flattening are not. Delusions may be persecutory and/or grandiose, but in addition to these, other themes such as jealousy, religiosity, or somatization may also be present. Disorganized type schizophrenia may be characterized where thought disorder and flat affect are present together. Catatonic type schizophrenia may be characterized where the patient may be almost immobile or exhibit agitated, purposeless movement. Symptoms can include catatonic stupor and waxy flexibility. Undifferentiated type schizophrenia may be characterized where psychotic symptoms are present but the criteria for paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic types have not been met. Residual type schizophrenia may be characterized where positive symptoms are present at a low intensity only. Post-schizophrenic depression may be characterized where a depressive episode arises in the aftermath of a schizophrenic illness where some low-level schizophrenic symptoms may still be present. Simple schizophrenia may be characterized by insidious and progressive development of prominent negative symptoms with no history of psychotic episodes.

In some embodiments, methods are provided for treating psychotic symptoms that may be present in other mental disorders, including, but not limited to, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, drug intoxication, and drug-induced psychosis. In certain embodiments, methods for treating delusions (e.g., “non-bizarre”) that may be present in, for example, delusional disorder are provided.

In various embodiments, methods for treating social withdrawal in conditions including, but not limited to, social anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder are provided.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for treating a neurodevelopmental disorder related to synaptic dysfunction in a patient in need thereof, where the methods generally include administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a disclosed compound, or a pharmaceutical composition including a disclosed compound. In certain embodiments, the neurodevelopmental disorder related to synaptic dysfunction can be Rett syndrome also known as cerebroatrophic hyperammonemia, MECP2 duplication syndrome (e.g., a MECP2 disorder), CDKL5 syndrome, fragile X syndrome (e.g., a FMR1 disorder), tuberous sclerosis (e.g., a TSC1 disorder and/or a TSC2 disorder), neurofibromatosis (e.g., a NF1 disorder), Angelman syndrome (e.g., a UBE3A disorder), the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome (e.g., a SHANK3 disorder), or infantile spasms. In particular embodiments, the neurodevelopmental disorder can be caused by mutations in the neuroligin (e.g., a NLGN3 disorder and/or a NLGN2 disorder) and/or the neurexin (e.g., a NRXN1 disorder).

In some embodiments, methods are provided for treating neuropathic pain. The neuropathic pain may be acute or chronic. In some cases, the neuropathic pain may be associated with a condition such as herpes, HIV, traumatic nerve injury, stroke, post-ischemia, chronic back pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, complex regional pain syndrome, spinal cord injury, sciatica, phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and cancer chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathic pain. Methods for enhancing pain relief and for providing analgesia to a patient are also provided.

In various embodiments, methods of the disclosure include a method of treating autism and/or an autism spectrum disorder in a patient need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a disclosed compound to the patient. In some embodiments, a method for reducing the symptoms of autism in a patient in need thereof is provided, where the method includes administering an effective amount of a disclosed compound to the patient. For example, upon administration, the compound may decrease the incidence of one or more symptoms of autism such as eye contact avoidance, failure to socialize, attention deficit, poor mood, hyperactivity, abnormal sound sensitivity, inappropriate speech, disrupted sleep, and perseveration. Such decreased incidence may be measured relative to the incidence in the untreated individual or an untreated individual(s).

Also provided herein is a method of modulating an autism target gene expression in a cell comprising contacting a cell with an effective amount of a compound described herein. The autism gene expression may be for example, selected from ABAT, APOE, CHRNA4, GABRA5, GFAP, GRIN2A, PDYN, and PENK. In certain embodiments, a method of modulating synaptic plasticity in a patient suffering from a synaptic plasticity related disorder is provided, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound.

In some embodiments, a method of treating Alzheimer's disease, or e.g., treatment of memory loss that e.g., accompanies early stage Alzheimer's disease, in a patient in need thereof is provided, comprising administering a compound. Also provided herein is a method of modulating an Alzheimer's amyloid protein (e.g., beta amyloid peptide, e.g. the isoform Aβ₁₋₄₂), in-vitro or in-vivo (e.g. in a cell) comprising contacting the protein with an effective amount of a compound is disclosed. For example, in some embodiments, a compound may block the ability of such amyloid protein to inhibit long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices as well as apoptotic neuronal cell death. In some embodiments, a disclosed compound may provide neuroprotective properties to a Alzheimer's patient in need thereof, for example, may provide a therapeutic effect on later stage Alzheimer's-associated neuronal cell death.

In certain embodiments, the disclosed methods include treating a psychosis or a pseudobulbar affect (“PBA”) that is induced by another condition such as a stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and/or Parkinson's disease. Such methods, as with other methods of the disclosure, include administration of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a disclosed compound to a patient in need thereof.

In various embodiments, a method of treating depression comprising administering a compound described herein is provided. In some embodiments, the treatment may relieve depression or a symptom of depression without affecting behavior or motor coordination and without inducing or promoting seizure activity. Exemplary depression conditions that are expected to be treated according to this aspect include, but are not limited to, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder (or manic depressive disorder), mood disorder, and depressions caused by chronic medical conditions such as cancer or chronic pain, chemotherapy, chronic stress, and post-traumatic stress disorders. In addition, patients suffering from any form of depression often experience anxiety. Various symptoms associated with anxiety include fear, panic, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and headaches among others. Anxiety or any of the symptoms thereof may be treated by administering a compound as described herein.

Also provided herein are methods of treating a condition in treatment-resistant patients, e.g., patients suffering from a mental or central nervous system condition that does not, and/or has not, responded to adequate courses of at least one, or at least two, other compounds or therapeutics. For example, provided herein is a method of treating depression in a treatment resistant patient, comprising a) optionally identifying the patient as treatment resistant and b) administering an effective dose of a compound to said patient.

In some embodiments, a compound described herein may be used for acute care of a patient. For example, a compound can be administered to a patient to treat a particular episode (e.g., a severe episode) of a condition described herein.

Also included herein are combination therapies comprising a disclosed compound in combination with one or more other active agents. For example, a disclosed compound may be combined with one or more antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants, MAO-I's, SSRI's, and double and triple uptake inhibitors and/or anxiolytic drugs. Exemplary drugs that may be used in combination with a compound include Anafranil, Adapin, Aventyl, Elavil, Norpramin, Pamelor, Pertofrane, Sinequan, Surmontil, Tofranil, Vivactil, Parnate, Nardil, Marplan, Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Remeron, Cymbalta, Desyrel (trazodone), and Ludiomill. In other examples, a compound may be combined with an antipsychotic medication. Non-limiting examples of antipsychotics include butyrophenones, phenothiazines, thioxanthenes, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, amisulpride, asenapine, paliperidone, iloperidone, zotepine, sertindole, lurasidone, and aripiprazole. It should be understood that combinations of a compound and one or more of the above therapeutics may be used for treatment of any suitable condition and are not limited to use as antidepressants or antipsychotics.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

The following abbreviations may be used herein and have the indicated definitions: Ac is acetyl (—C(O)CH₃), AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Boc and BOC are tert-butoxycarbonyl, Boc₂O is di-tert-butyl dicarbonate, Bn is benzyl, BOM-Cl is benzyloxymethyl chloride, CAN is ceric ammonium nitrate, Cbz is carboxybenzyl, DCM is dichloromethane, DIAD is diisopropyl azodicarboxylate, DIPEA is N,N-diisopropylethylamine, DMAP is 4-dimethylaminopyridine, DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide, DMSO is dimethyl sulfoxide, EDC and EDCI are 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, ESI is electrospray ionization, EtOAc is ethyl acetate, Gly is glycine, h is hour, HATU is 2-(7-aza-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate, HIV is human immunodeficiency virus, HOBt is hydroxybenzotriazole, HPLC is high performance liquid chromatography, LCMS is liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, LDA is lithium diisopropylamidc, LiHMDS is lithium hexamethyldisilazane, MsCl is methanesulfonyl chloride, MTBE is methyl tert-butyl ether, NMDAR is N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. NMP is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, NMR is nuclear magnetic resonance, Pd/C is palladium on carbon, PMB is para-methoxybenzyl, RT is room temperature (e.g., from about 20° C. to about 25° C.), TBS and TBDMS are tert-butyldimethylsilyl, TEA is triethylamine, TLC is thin layer chromatography, TFA is trifluoroacetic acid, THF is tetrahydrofuran, TMS is trimethylsilyl, TMSCN is trimethylsilyl cyanide, and TPP is triphenylphosphine.

Example 1 Synthesis of Compound AA

Synthesis of (3R,7aS)-3-(trichloromethyl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-1-one (1)

To a suspension of L-Proline (2.0 kg, 0.017 mol) in chloroform (50 L) was added chloral hydrate (5.7 kg, 0.034 mol) at RT. The reaction mixture was heated to 60° C. under reverse Dean-Stark apparatus and obtained water was collected. After 16 h, the volatiles were concentrated under reduced pressure. Crude solid was washed with cold ethanol, filtered and dried to afford compound 1 (2.2 kg, 57%) as white solid. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 5.82 (s, 1H), 4.11-4.08 (m, 1H), 3.33-3.27 (m, 2H), 3.19-3.14 (m, 1H), 2.15-2.10 (m, 1H), 1.96-1.91 (m, 1H), 1.80-1.74 (m, 1H), 1.65-1.58 (m, 1H).

Synthesis of (3R,7aR)-7a-((benzyloxy)methyl)-3-(trichloromethyl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-1-one (2)

To a solution of diisopropylamine (221.2 mL, 1.533 mol) in THF (870 mL) was added n-BuLi (1.6 M in hexane) (958.5 mL, 1.533 mol) drop wise at −78° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. After completion of addition, temperature of reaction mixture was raised to −20° C. and stirred for 1 h. Again cooled to −78° C., compound 1 (250 g, 1.022 mol) in THF (1 L) was added and stirred for 30 min. Then benzylchloromethyl ether (208 mL, 1.329 mol) was added drop wise and stirring continued for 1 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was quenched with ice-cold water (100 mL) and extracted with Et₂O (2×100 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine (100 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 10% EtOAC/n-hexane to obtain compound 2 (220 g, crude) as brown thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.42-7.26 (m, 5H), 5.60 (s, 1H), 4.59-4.53 (d, 2H), 3.67-3.61 (m, 2H), 3.37-3.33 (m, 1H), 3.31-3.10 (m, 1H), 2.12-1.99 (m, 2H), 1.87-1.75 (m, 2H); LCMS (ESI): n/z 363.9 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of methyl (R)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate hydrochloride (3)

To a solution of compound 2 (400 g, 1.096 mol) in methanol (1 L) was added 2N HCl in MeOH (1.64 L, 3.29 mol) at RT and stirred at 80° C., for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude was washed with hexanes (3×750 mL) and dried under reduced pressure to afford compound 3 (358 g, crude) as redish thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 10.40 (br s, 1H), 7.40-7.21 (m, 5H), 4.64-4.50 (d, 2H), 4.49-4.3 (d, 2H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 3.33-3.22 (m, 2H), 2.22-2.15 (s, 1H), 2.02-1.9 (m, 2H), 1.95-1.83 (m, 1H).

Synthesis of 1-(tert-butyl) 2-methyl (R)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)pyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylate (4)

To a stirred suspension of compound 3 (313 g, crude 1.096 mol) in DCM (2.19 L) was added Et₃N (458.4 mL, 3.288 mol) drop wise at 0° C. under nitrogen atmosphere and stirred for 10 min. Then Boc-anhydride (358.4 g, 1.644 mol) was added drop wise at 0° C. The reaction mixture was brought to RT and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction was diluted with water (2×1 L) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×500 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 10% citric acid (pH˜7) and brine solution (1 L). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 20% EtOAC/n-hexane to obtain compound 4 (215 g, 56%) as colour less thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.37-7.26 (m, 5H), 4.56-4.48 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.87 (dd, 1H), 3.69-3.67 (d, 1H), 3.62 (s, 3H), 3.53-3.47 (m, 1H), 3.33-3.30 (m, 1H), 2.27-2.20 (m, 1H), 2.03-1.89 (m, 2H), 1.88-1.79 (m, 1H), 1.46-1.24 (2s, 9H): LCMS (ESI): n/z 250.1 [(M⁺+1)-Boc].

Synthesis of (R)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5)

To a solution of compound 4 (215 g, 0.616 mol) in MeOH:THF:H₂O (3 L, 5:5:3) was added NaOH (73.9 g, 1.848 mol) and stirred at RT for 10 min. The reaction mixture was heated to 80° C., and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), reaction mixture was brought to RT, volatiles were evaporated. Crude material was diluted with water (1 L) and extracted with Et₂O (2×500 mL). The separated aqueous layer was acidified using 2 N HCl solution (pH˜3) and extracted with DCM (2×750 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine solution, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to afford compound 5 (170 g, 82.4%) as off white solid. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.66 (br s, 1H), 7.36-7.26 (m, 5H), 4.54-4.47 (m, 2H), 4.05-3.90 (dd, 1H), 3.88-3.63 (d, 1H), 3.63-3.44 (m, 1H), 3.34-3.27 (m, 1H), 2.27-2.01 (m, 1H), 2.02-1.8 (m, 2H), 1.79-1.76 (m, 1H), 1.17-1.14 (2s, 9H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 235.1 [(M⁺1)-Boc].

Synthesis of (R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (6)

To a stirring solution of compound 5 (170 g, 0.507 mol) in CH₃OH (1 L) was added 50% wet 10% Pd—C (68 g) at RT and stirred for 16 h under H₂ atmosphere. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and the pad was washed with CH₃OH (1 L). Obtained filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford compound 6 (110 g, 88%) as white solid. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.66 (br s, 1H), 3.96-3.83 (dd, 1H), 3.63-3.60 (m, 1H), 3.49-3.46 (m, 1H), 3.34-3.25 (m, 2H), 2.30-2.15 (m, 1H), 1.95-1.72 (m, 3H), 1.38-1.33 (2s, 9H); LCMS (ESI): n/z 244 [M⁺−1]: Chiral HPLC: 95.88%.

Synthesis of tert-butyl (R)-2-(((2S,3R)-1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-1-oxobutan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (7)

To a stirring solution of compound 6 (110 g, 0.448 mol) in DCM (20 mL) reaction mixture cooled to 0° C. under N₂ atmosphere diisopropylethylamine (206 mL, 1.12 mol) were added Intermediate D (150 g, 0.448 mol), HATU (204 g, 0.537 mol) under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was brought to RT and stirred for 4 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (1 L) and washed with water (2×500 mL), 10% citric acid solution (500 mL) and brine solution (500 mL). Organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 30% EtOAc/n-hexane to obtain compound 7 (143 g, 60%) as colorless thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.20-8.12 (d, 1H), 7.29-7.18 (m, 10H), 5.83-5.59 (m, 1H), 5.08 (s, 2H), 4.50-4.44 (m, 2H), 4.30-4.26 (m, 1H), 4.08-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.42-3.40 (m, 2H), 3.39-3.29 (m, 1H), 2.19-2.08 (m, 1H), 1.96-1.87 (m, 1H), 1.68-1.63 (m, 2H), 1.23-1.15 (2s, 9H), 1.14-1.13 (d, 3H); LCMS (m/z): 525.2 [M⁺−1]; HPLC: 76.2%; Chiral HPLC: 69.47%.

Synthesis of tert-butyl (R)-2-((2S,3R)-1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octane-5-carboxylate (8)

To a solution of triphenylphosphine (161.4 g, 0.612 mol) in THF (430 mL) was added DIAD (123.8 g, 0.612 mol) drop wise at RT under nitrogen atmosphere and stirred for 15 minutes. To this, compound 7 (215 g, 0.408 mol) in THF (860 mL) solution was added drop wise and allowed to stir RT for 4 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with 20% EtOAc/hexane to afford compound 8 (180 g, mixture with DIAD by product) as yellow syrup. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.31-7.18 (m, 10H), 5.18-5.10 (m, 2H), 4.61-4.54 (m, 2H), 4.27-4.18 (m, 2H), 3.78-3.77 (d, 1H), 3.45-3.43 (d, 1H), 3.35-3.31 (d, 1H), 3.27-3.23 (m, 1H), 2.03-1.98 (m, 2H), 1.78-1.76 (m, 2H), 1.39-1.31 (2s, 9H), 1.23-1.22 (d, 3H) (DIAD by product peaks were not captured); LCMS (ESI): m/z 509.4 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of benzyl (2S,3R)-3-(benzyloxy)-2-((R)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoate (9)

To a stirring solution of compound 8 (120 g, 0.236 mol) in DCM (1 L) reaction mixture cooled to 0° C. under N₂ atmosphere triflouroacetic acid (269 g, 2.326 mol) was added. Reaction mixture was to RT for 3 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC). Reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, the obtained crude compound was dissolved in water (1 L), and was washed with diethyl ether (500 mL), the aqueous layer was cooled to 0° C., pH was adjusted with solid sodium bicarbonate up to 7. The aq. layer was extracted with DCM and gave a brine wash followed by dried over Na₂SO₄. Concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain compound 9, free base, as a thick syrup (193 g). ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.33-7.25 (m, 10H), 5.18-5.10 (m, 2H), 4.57-4.53 (m, 2H), 4.28-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.20-4.15 (d, 1H), 3.52-3.31 (d, 1H), 2.89-2.85 (d, 2H), 1.92-1.84 (m, 4H), 1.77-1.73 (d, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 409.5 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of benzyl (2S,3R)-3-(benzyloxy)-2-((R)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoate (10)

To a stirring solution of compound 9 (20 g, 49.02 mmol) in DCM (150 mL) were added TEA (13.3 mL, 98.04 mmol), mesyl chloride (5.9 mL, 73.53 mmol) at 0° C. under nitrogen atmosphere and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction was diluted with DCM (100 mL) and extracted with water (2×250 mL) followed by washings with brine solution. Organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting 2% MeOH/DCM to afford compound 10 (23 g, 96%) as thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.33-7.17 (m, 10H), 5.18-5.10 (m, 2H), 4.66 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 4.54 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.35 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.26-4.19 (m, 1H), 3.63 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.53 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.37-3.31 (m, 2H), 3.16 (s, 3H), 2.13-2.09 (m, 2H), 1.90-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 487.58 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((R)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoic acid (11)

To a stirring solution of compound 10 (23 g, 47.32 mmol) in methanol (100 mL) was added 50% wet 10% Pd/C (15 g) at RT and stirred for 16 h under H₂ atmosphere. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and concentrated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude material was dissolved in Et₂O (50 mL) and stirred at RT for 1 h. Formed product was filtrated and dried in vacuum to afford compound 11 (6 g, crude) as off white solid. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.86 (br s, 1H), 4.94 (s, 1H), 4.29-4.23 (m, 1H), 4.16 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 3.70 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.59 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.42-3.36 (m, 2H), 3.12 (s, 3H), 2.25-2.13 (m, 2H), 1.94-1.86 (m, 2H), 1.15 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 307 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((R)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanamide (Compound AA)

To a stirring solution of compound 11 (600 mg, 1.96 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 mL) were added DIPEA (1.0 mL, 5.88 mmol), ammonium chloride (318 mg, 5.88 mmol), HOBt (379 mg, 2.94 mmol) and EDCI.HCl (562 mg, 2.94 mmol) at 0-5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (30 mL) and washed with water (2×30 mL). Total Aqueous layer was concentrated to solid and then diluted with 5% MeOH/DCM for separation of insoluble material through celite pad. Product was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain crude material which was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting 2% MeOH/DCM to afford Compound AA (200 mg, 33%) as white solid. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 4.49-4.41 (m, 2H), 4.11-4.08 (m, 1H), 3.92-3.89 (m, 1H), 3.72-3.57 (m, 2H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 2.55-2.46 (m, 2H), 2.23-2.17 (m, 2H), 1.43-1.41 (m, 3H); LCMS (ESI): n/z 306.2 [M⁺1]; HPLC: 99.48%; Chiral HPLC: 98.90%.

Threonine Derivative Preparation

Synthesis of (tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-threonine (A)

To a solution of SM-2 (50 g, 0.420 mol) in 1,4-dioxane:water (500 mL, 1:1) was added NaHCO₃ (133 g, 1.255 mol) portion wise at RT and stirred for 15 min. Then Boc-anhydride (144 mL, 0.629 mol) was added drop wise to the reaction mixture and stirring was continued at RT for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and obtained residue was diluted with water (200 mL) and acidified by using 1N HCl (pH˜2). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (2×300 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (1×200 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford compound A (80 g, 87%) as colorless syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.5 (br s, 1H), 6.30 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (br s, 1H), 4.05-4.02 (m, 1H), 3.88-3.86 (m, 1H), 1.39 (s, 9H), 1.08 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H); LCMS (m/z): 218.1 [M⁺−1].

Synthesis of O-benzyl-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-threonine (B)

To a stirring solution of compound A (80 g, 0.365 mol) in DMF (800 mL) was added 60% NaH (22 g, 0.913 mol) portion wise at −20° C. under N₂ atmosphere and stirred for 2 h. To this was added benzyl bromide (52 mL, 0.438 mol) drop wise and the reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C., for 4 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was quenched with ice cold water and extracted with diethyl ether (2×500 mL). Aqueous layer acidified by using 1N HCl (pH˜2). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (0.2×1 L). Separated organic layer washed with brine solution, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford compound B (84 g, crude) as thick syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.64 (br s, 1H), 7.34-7.25 (m, 5H), 6.46 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 4.53 (d, J=11.5 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.00-3.98 (m, 2H), 1.39 (s, 9H), 1.15 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of benzyl O-benzyl-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-threoninate (C)

To a stirring solution of compound B (0.78 g, 0.252 mol) in DMF (780 mL) was added K₂CO₃ (87 g, 0.631 mol) at RT under N₂ atmosphere and stirred for 30 min. To this benzyl bromide (45 mL, 0.378 mol) was added drop wise at RT and stirred for 16 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with water (2 L) and extracted with diethyl ether (2×1 L). The separated organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with 10% EtOAc/n-hexane to afford compound C (68 g, 68%) as yellow syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.37-7.18 (m, 10H), 6.81 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 5.08 (s, 2H), 4.49 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.32 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.22 (m, 1H), 4.01-3.98 (m, 1H), 1.38 (s, 9H), 1.15 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H); Mass (ESI): m/z 399.4 [M⁺].

Synthesis of benzyl O-benzyl-L-threoninate hydrochloride (D)

To a solution of compound C (68 g, 0.170 mol) in diethyl ether (500 mL) was added 4N HCl in 1,4-dioxane (130 mL, 0.511 mol) and stirred at RT for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material was dissolved in diethylether (1 L) and vigorously stirred at RT for 1 h. Obtained solid was filtered off and dried under reduced pressure to afford compound D (50 g, 87%) as white solid (HCl salt). ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.59 (s, 2H), 7.50-7.25 (m, 10H), 5.23 (d, J=12.5 Hz, 1H), 5.16 (d, J=12.5 Hz, 1H), 4.54 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.36 (d, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.12-4.09 (m, 1H), 4.09-3.99 (m, 1H), 1.29 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 3H); Mass (ESI): m/z 336.4 [M⁺+1].

Example 2 Synthesis of Compound BB

Synthesis of (3S,7aR)-3-(trichloromethyl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-1-one (1)

To a suspension of D-Proline (80 g, 0.694 mol) in chloroform (2 L) was added chloral hydrate (230 g, 1.390 mol) at RT. The reaction mixture was heated to 80° C. under reverse Dean-Stark apparatus and obtained water was collected. After 16 h, volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Crude solid obtained was washed with cold ethanol, filtered and dried to afford compound 1 (118 g, 69%) as white solid ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 5.82 (s, 1H), 4.11-4.09 (m, 1H), 3.33-3.28 (m, 1H), 3.19-3.14 (m, 1H), 2.17-2.10 (m, 1H), 1.97-1.91 (m, 1H), 1.80-1.74 (m, 1H), 1.65-1.58 (m, 1H).

Synthesis of (3S,7aS)-7a-((benzyloxy)methyl)-3-(trichloromethyl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-1-one (2)

To a solution of diisopropylamine (101 mL, 0.711 mol) in THF (900 mL) was added n-BuLi (2.5M in hexane) (285 mL, 0.711 mol) drop wise at −78° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. After completion of addition, temperature of reaction mixture was raised to −20° C. and stirred for 1 h. Again cooled to −78° C., compound 1 (116 g, 0.474 mol) in THF (100 mL) was added and stirred for 30 min. Then benzylchloromethyl ether (79 mL, 0.569 mol) was added drop wise and stirring continued for 1 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was quenched with ice-cold water (100 mL) and extracted with Et₂O (2×100 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 10% EtOAc/n-hexane to obtain compound 2 (102 g, 58%) as yellow liquid. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.35-7.26 (m, 5H), 5.60 (s, 1H), 4.59-4.53 (d, 2H), 3.67-3.62 (m, 2H), 3.71-3.31 (m, 1H), 3.16-3.11 (m, 1H), 2.12-1.99 (m, 2H), 1.86-1.72 (m, 2H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 364.2 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of methyl (S)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate hydrochloride (3)

To a solution of compound 2 (102 g, 0.279 mol) in methanol (1 L) was added 2N HCl in ether (699 mL, 1.398 mol) at RT and stirred for 15 min. The reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C., for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude was washed with hexanes (2×500 mL) and dried under reduced pressure to afford compound 3 (80 g, crude) as brown syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 10.54 (br s, 1H), 9.44 (br s, 1H), 7.40-7.30 (m, 5H), 4.68-4.62 (d, 1H), 4.51-4.46 (d, 1H), 4.00-3.90 (m, 2H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 3.33-3.16 (m, 2H), 2.20-2.14 (s, 1H), 2.01-1.85 (m, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 250.2 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of 1-(tert-butyl) 2-methyl (S)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)pyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylate (4)

To a stirred suspension of compound 3 (80 g, 0.280 mol) in DCM (800 mL) was added Et₃N (118 mL, 0.841 mol) drop wise at 0° C. under nitrogen atmosphere and stirred for 10 min. Then added Boc-anhydride (97 mL, 0.420 mol) drop wise at 0° C. The reaction mixture was brought to RT and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction was diluted with water (1 L) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×200 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 10% citric acid (pH˜7) and brine solution (200 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 10% EtOAC/n-hexane to obtain compound 4 (49 g, 50%) as brown syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.37-7.28 (m, 5H), 4.57-4.50 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.88 (dd, 1H), 3.71-3.69 (d, 1H), 3.63 (s, 3H), 3.52-3.47 (m, 1H), 3.36-3.31 (m, 1H), 2.32-2.23 (m, 1H), 2.05-1.88 (m, 2H), 1.82-1.77 (m, 1H), 1.38-1.26 (2s, 9H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 250.3 [(M⁺+1)-Boc]; UPLC: 96.54%; Chiral HPLC: 90.05%.

Synthesis of (S)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5)

To a solution of compound 4 (49 g, 0.140 mol) in MeOH:THF:H₂O (650 mL, 5:5:3) was added NaOH (11.23 g, 0.281 mol) at RT stirred at 80° C., for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), reaction mixture was brought to RT, volatiles were evaporated to ⅓^(rd) of its volume under reduced pressure. Crude material was diluted with water (250 mL) and extracted with Et₂O (2×100 mL). The separated aqueous layer was acidified using 10% citric acid solution (pH˜3) and extracted with DCM (2×250 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine solution, dried over anhy. Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to afford compound 5 (43 g, 91%) as brown syrup. ¹H-NMR: (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.68 (br s, 1H), 7.36-7.28 (m, 5H), 4.56-4.49 (m, 2H), 4.07-3.90 (dd, 1H), 3.66-3.64 (d, 1H), 3.50-3.44 (m, 1H), 2.29-2.20 (m, 1H), 2.03-1.75 (m, 3H), 1.39-1.28 (2s, 9H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 334.1 [M⁺−1]; UPLC: 99.99%; Chiral HPLC: 93.70%.

Synthesis of (S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (6)

To a stirring solution of compound 5 (43 g, 0.128 mol) in methanol (500 mL) was added 50% wet 10% Pd—C (20 g) at RT and stirred for 16 h under H₂ atmosphere. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and the pad was washed with CH₃OH (50 mL). Obtained filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford compound 6 (29 g, 92%) as off white solid. ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 3.92-3.80 (dd, 1H), 3.64-3.61 (m, 1H), 3.49-3.34 (m, 1H), 3.32-3.26 (m, 1H), 2.29-2.16 (m, 1H), 1.95-1.71 (m, 3H), 1.38-1.33 (2s, 9H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 243.8 [M⁺−1]; UPLC: 99.84%; Chiral HPLC: 95.26%.

Synthesis of tert-butyl (S)-2-(((2S,3R)-1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-1-oxobutan-2-yl)carbamoyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (7)

To a stirring solution of compound 6 (40 g, 0.163 mol) in DCM (800 mL) were added diisopropylethylamine (44 mL, 0.244 mol). Intermediate D (48.77 g, 0.163 mol), HATU (74.38 g, 0.195 mol) and at 0-5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was brought to RT and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (200 L) and washed with water (500 mL), 1N HCl solution (200 mL) saturated NaHCO₃ solution (300 mL) and brine solution (300 L). Organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 40% EtOAc/n-hexane to obtain compound 7 (62 g, 72%) as white solid: ¹H-NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.91-7.89 (d, 0.5H), 7.53-7.51 (d, 0.5H), 7.32-7.19 (m, 10H), 5.64 (br s, 1H), 5.16-5.04 (m, 2H), 4.62-4.49 (m, 2H), 4.31-4.28 (m, 1H), 4.09-4.02 (m, 1.5H), 3.87 (br s, 1H), 3.57-3.56 (m, 0.5H), 3.43-3.37 (m, 1H), 3.29-3.25 (m, 1H), 2.32-2.14 (m, 1H), 1.98-1.90 (m, 1H), 1.75-1.69 (m, 2H), 1.33-1.26 (2s, 9H), 1.14-1.12 (d, 3H); LCMS (m/z): 527.5 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of tert-butyl (S)-2-((2S,3R)-1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octane-5-carboxylate (8)

To a solution of triphenylphosphine (43.23 g, 0.165 mol) in THF (186 mL) was added DIAD (33.33 g, 0.165 mol) drop wise at RT under nitrogen atmosphere and stirred for 30 minutes. To this, compound 7 (62 g, 0.117 mol) in THF (186 mL) solution was added drop wise at 0° C., and allowed to stir RT for 4 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), quenched with ice (20 g) and volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Crude residue was precipitated (to remove TPPO) by the addition of ether: hexane (600 mL, 1:2). Solvents decanted and evaporated to obtain crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with 40-50% EtOAc/hexane to afford compound 8 (52 g; less pure) as thick syrup. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.41-7.19 (m, 10H), 5.22-5.06 (m, 2H), 4.58-4.49 (m, 2H), 4.30 (d, J=11.9 Hz, 1H), 4.09-4.03 (m, 1H), 3.88 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1), 3.48 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 3.39-3.32 (m, 1H), 3.28-3.16 (m, 1H), 2.13-2.01 (m, 2H), 1.81-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.40-1.25 (d, 9H), 1.18 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 509.4 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of benzyl (2S,3R)-3-(benzyloxy)-2-((S)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoate (9)

To a stirring solution of compound 8 (52 g, 0.102 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (500 mL) was added TFA (78 mL, 1.02 mol) drop wise at 0-5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. After being stirred at RT for 3 h, the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude product was washed with Hexanes (2×100 mL), basified with NaHCO₃ solution and extracted with EtOAc (3×300 mL). Organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 2% MeOH/DCM to obtain compound 9 (38 g, 90%) as brown syrup. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.41-7.17 (m, 10H), 5.24-5.11 (m, 2H), 4.59-4.51 (m, 2H), 4.27 (d, J=11.9 Hz, 1H), 4.16-4.11 (m, 1H), 3.54 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 3.44 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 2.92-2.84 (m, 2H), 1.97-1.91 (m, 2H), 1.81-1.67 (m, 2H), 1.15 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 409.1 [M⁺+1].

Synthesis of benzyl (2S,3R)-3-(benzyloxy)-2-((S)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoate (10)

To a stirring solution of compound 9 (38 g, 98.13 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (380 mL) was added TEA (27 mL, 186.2 mmol) drop wise at 0-5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. After being stirred for 5 minutes, MsCl (7.9 mL, 102.4 mmol) was added drop wise at 0-5° C., and continued stirring for 2 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (200 mL) and washed with water (2×100 mL) and brine solution. Organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude compound which was purified by column chromatography by eluting with 50% EtOAc/hexane to obtain compound 10 (35 g, 77%) as brown syrup. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 7.40-7.25 (m, 8H), 7.23-7.18 (m, 2H), 5.21-5.15 (m, 1H), 5.14-5.07 (m, 1H), 4.58-4.51 (m, 2H), 4.29 (d, J=11.8 Hz, 1H), 4.11-4.00 (m, 1H), 3.89 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.49 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.42-3.34 (m, 2H), 3.05 (s, 3H), 2.20-2.12 (m, 2H), 1.94-1.84 (m, 2H), 1.14 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 487.1 [M⁺+1]; HPLC: 92.20%.

Synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((S)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanoic acid (11)

A solution of compound 10 (35 g, 72.01 mmol) in methanol (400 mL) was degassed under N₂ atmosphere. Then added 50% wet 10% Pd—C (20 g) at RT and stirred for 24 h under H₂ atmosphere. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite and filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude solid was washed with Et₂O (2×100 mL). Resultant solid material was filtered off and dried to afford compound 11 (18 g, 81%) as white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.87 (br s, 1H), 5.00 (br s, 1H), 4.11-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.79 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 3.54 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 3.44-3.33 (m, 2H), 3.07 (s, 3H), 2.30-2.16 (m, 2H), 1.98-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.09 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H); LCMS (m/z): 307.1 [M⁺+1]; HPLC: 95.16%; Chiral HPLC: >99%.

Synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((S)-5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanamide (Compound BB)

To a stirring suspension of compound 11 (18 g, 58.82 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL) was added DIPEA (32 mL, 176.4 mmol) at 0° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. Then, HOBt (11.91 g, 88.23 mmol), NH₄Cl (9.44 g, 176.47 mmol) followed by EDCI.HCl (16.85 g, 88.23 mmol) was added at 0° C. The reaction mixture was brought to RT and stirred for 16 h. After consumption of the starting material (by TLC), reaction mixture was quenched with ice (50 g) and volatiles were evaporated under reduced pressure. Obtained crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with 5% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ to afford Compound BB (14 g) as impure solid. To enrich the purity of final product: i) triturated with DCM and ether (1:2) ii) precipitated from MeOH:DCM (1:1) solution using diethyl ether (200 mL) iii) recrystallized from MeOH. The solid obtained was filtered and dried under vacuum to afford Compound BB (7.4 g, 41%) as white solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 4.38-4.31 (m, 2H), 3.97 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 3.82 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 3.64-3.58 (m, 1H), 3.55-3.46 (m, 1H), 3.22 (s, 3H), 2.46-2.39 (m, 2H), 2.15-2.05 (m, 2H), 1.27 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H); LCMS (ESI): m/z 306.2 [M⁺+1]; HPLC: 99.50%; Chiral HPLC: 100.00%; SOR (c=1, H₂O): −21.58; OVI: MeOH (298 ppm).

Example 3

This example demonstrates the positive emotional learning (PEL) test. Experiments were conducted as described in Burgdorf et al., “The effect of selective breeding for differential rates of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations on emotional behavior in rats,” Devel. Psychobiol., 51:34-46 (2009). Rat 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalization (hedonic USVs) is a validated model for the study of positive affective state and is best elicited by rough-and-tumble play, 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations have previously been shown to be positively correlated with reward and appetitive social behavior in rats, and to reflect a positive affective state.

The PEL assay measures the acquisition of positive (hedonic) 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to a social stimulus, heterospecific rough and tumble play stimulation. Heterospecific rough-and-tumble play stimulation was administered by the experimenter's right hand. Animals received 3 min of heterospecific rough-and-tumble play that consisted of alternating 15 sec blocks of heterospecific play and 15 sec of no-stimulation. High frequency ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded and analyzed by sonogram with Avasoft SASlab Pro (Germany) as previously described by Burgdorf et al., “Positive emotional learning is regulated in the medial prefrontal cortex by GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors,” Neuroscience, 192:515-523 (2011). Frequency modulated 50-kHz USVs that occurred during each of the no-stimulation periods were quantified to measure PEL. Animals were not habituated to play stimulation before testing. Positive emotional learning was measured during the conditioned stimulus (CS) trials preceding the tickle unconditioned stimulus (UCS) trials. Animals received 15 second trials consisting of 6 CS and 6 UCS trials each (3 min total). Running speed for animals to self administer tickling at the end of the 3 min session was also measured.

FIG. 1 shows the results of the rat PEL test. The results demonstrate that Compound BB, when administered one hour prior to PEL testing, increases positive emotional learning as measured by rat USVs, thereby indicating an antidepressant effect.

Example 4

Microsomal stability for Compound AA and Compound BB was investigated. The following table indicates the percent of Compound AA and Compound BB remaining after 60 minutes.

Microsomal Stability (% remaining at 60 min) Human Rat Compound AA 100% 100% Compound BB  92%  96%

Plasma stability for Compound AA and Compound BB was investigated. The following table indicates the percent of Compound AA and Compound BB remaining after 60 minutes.

Plasma Stability (% remaining at 60 min) Human Rat Compound AA 91% 59% Compound BB 81% 86%

Bound drug concentration in the brain was also investigated, and plasma protein binding assays were conducted. The following table (% bound) indicates results for Compound AA and Compound BB.

Plasma Protein binding assays Rat & Human (% Bound) Plasma rat Plasma human Compound AA 18 Not tested Compound BB 35 21.1

The bioavailablity of Compound BB was investigated following PO administration. CSF, brain and plasma samples were analyzed following dosing with compound BB (10 mg/kg). The following table indicates the bioavailablity and CSF/plasma and brain/plasma ratios.

Compound AA Compound BB Bioavailablity (% F) 29 82 CSF/plasma ratio Not tested 0.48 Brain/plasma ratio Not tested 0.12

Example 5

Assays were conducted as described by Moskal et al., “GLYX-13: a monoclonal antibody-derived peptide that acts as an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulator,” Neuropharmacology, 49, 1077-87, 2005. The potentiation of [³H]MK-801 binding (5 nM; 22.5 Ci/mmol) to well washed rat cortical membranes (200 μg) was measured under non-equilibrium conditions (15 min @ 25° C.) in the presence of increasing concentrations of Compound AA or Compound BB.

FIG. 2A depicts the potentiation of [³H]MK-801 binding for wild-type NMDAR2 subtypes in the presence of Compound AA. FIG. 2B depicts the potentiation of [³H]MK-801 binding for wild-type NMDAR2 subtypes in the presence of Compound BB. The following table depicts the results (P means potency and A means activity):

NR2A NR2B NR2C NR2D Compound P (M) A (%) P (M) A (%) P (M) A (%) P (M) A (%) Compound AA −10.00 38.8 0 0 −10.0 67.0 −10.7 58.7 Compound BB 0 0 −12.61 76.3 0 0 −10.25 57.41

Example 6

Sprague Dawley rats were dosed intravenously with 2 mg/kg of Compound AA. A second group of Sprague Dawley rats was dosed per os with 10 mg/kg of compound AA. Plasma samples were drawn over a 24 h period and analyzed for Compound AA. FIG. 3A presents the mean plasma concentration-time profile of Compound AA following the single intraveneous (2 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats over the 24 hour period.

In another experiment. Sprague Dawley rats were dosed intravenously with 2 mg/kg of Compound BB. A second group of Sprague Dawley rats was dosed per os with 10 mg/kg of compound BB. Plasma samples were drawn over a 24 h period and analyzed for Compound BB. FIG. 3B presents the mean plasma concentration-time profile of Compound BB following the single intraveneous (2 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats over the 24 hour period.

In another experiment, Sprague Dawley rats were dosed per os with 10 mg/kg of Compound BB. Plasma, brain, and CSF samples were analyzed at various time points over a 24 hour period. FIG. 4 displays the mean plasma, brain, and CSF concentration-time profile of Compound BB following a single oral (0.10 mg/kg) dose administration in male Sprague Dawley rats over the 24 hour period.

Example 7

The in vitro MN (micronucleus) assay was performed for Compound BB. Cytotoxicity is presented as the % of control growth. A cytotoxicity value of less than 60% is flagged, and the compound is considered toxic at the respective concentration. The results of the in vitro MN assay for Compound BB are shown in FIG. 5.

The Ames assay was performed for Compound BB. For the Ames assay results, hyphens (-) indicate negative results. Weak positives, if p<0.05, are denoted as “+”. Strong positives, if p<0.01, are denoted as “++”. Very strong positives, if p<0.001, are denoted as “+++”. The results of the Ames assay for Compound BB are shown in FIG. 5.

A hERG assay was performed using Compound BB to identify potential hERG channel interactions. For hERG, results showing an inhibition or stimulation higher than 50% are considered to represent significant effects on the test compound. The results of the hERG assay for Compound BB are shown in FIG. 5.

Example 8

Single blast-induced traumatic brain injury/cognitive deficits were induced, modified for use in rats according to the protocol of Goldstein et al., “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in blast-exposed military veterans and a blast neurotrauma mouse model,” Science Translational Medicine, Vol. 4, Issue 134, pp. 134ra60, 2012. Male 2-3 month old Sprague Dawley rats were used. Rats were housed in Lucite cages with aspen wood chip bedding, maintained on a 12:12 light:dark cycle (lights on at 5 AM), and given ad libitum access to Purina lab chow (USA) and tap water throughout the study. Rats were first anesthetized using 3.5-4% isoflurane, then the ears were protected with 1.5×1.5 mm foam plugs (Pura-Fit®, Moldex-Metric Inc., Culver City, Calif.), and the rat was placed into a head access rodent thoracic restrainer (Stoelting, USA) to protect the body while allowing the head to move freely. An aluminum shock tube (183×61 cm; L-3 Applied Technologies, USA) was positioned 10 cm from the head of the rat. Rats received a single ˜42 PSI blast of helium generated by puncturing 0.014 inches of polyester film. Sham controls were placed outside of the blast radius. Animals were dosed with Compound BB (10 mg/kg PO), or 0.5% Na-CMC in 0.9% sterile saline vehicle (1 ml/kg PO) 1 h post-blast.

PEL (Positive emotional learning) was conducted 48 hours post-blast. Heterospecific rough-and-tumble play was conducted as previously described by Burgdorf et al., “The long-lasting antidepressant effects of rapastinel (GLYX-13) are associated with a metaplasticity process in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus,” Neuroscience 308:202-211, 2015. Heterospecific rough-and-tumble play stimulation was administered by the experimenter's right hand. Animals received 3 min of heterospecific rough-and-tumble play that consisted of alternating 15 sec blocks of heterospecific play and 15 sec of no-stimulation. High frequency ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded and analyzed by sonogram with Avasoft SASlab Pro (Germany) as previously described by Burgdorf et al., “Positive emotional learning is regulated in the medial prefrontal cortex by GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors,” Neuroscience, 192:515-523, 2011. Frequency modulated 50-kHz USVs that occurred during each the no-stimulation periods were quantified to measure PEL. Animals were not habituated to play stimulation before testing.

The results of the PEL study for Compound BB are reported in FIG. 6.

Example 9

This Example relates to the assessment of the anxiolytic effect of treatment in the stress-induced anxiety model, novelty induced hypophagia. This assay is also sensitive to the rapid acting antidepressants ketamine and GLYX-13 (Li et al., “mTOR-dependent synapse formation underlies the rapid antidepressant effects of NMDA antagonists,” Science 329:959-964, 2010; and Burgdorf et al., 2013). See also Bodnoff et al., “A comparison of the effects of diazepam versus several typical and atypical anti-depressant drugs in an animal model of anxiety,” Psychopharmacology, 97:277-279, 1989.

Testing was conducted as described by (Burgdorf et al., 2013). A version of the novelty induced hypophagia (NIH) test was used that has previously been shown to detect the acute anxiolytic-like effect of ketamine (Li et al., 2010). Animals were food deprived overnight before testing, and lab chow was placed in the center chamber of an open field (40×40×20 cm) for 10 min under dim red lighting. Between testing each animal, feces and urine were removed from the apparatus. After NIH testing, the latency to eat in the animal's home cage was determined as a control to ensure the effect on eating is specific to the novel environment. Animals were videotaped, and latency (sec) for the animal to take the first bite of food was manually scored offline.

A single point per dose group that was 2 or more standard deviations from the mean was considered an outlier and was excluded from the data analysis. ED₅₀ was defined as the dose (or log linear interpolation of dose) that exhibited a half maximal effect (average of the vehicle and maximally efficacious dose) from a log (dose) linear (NIH value) plot. The maximally efficacious dose was defined as the lowest dose that was statistically different from vehicle but statistically equivalent (per Fisher's PLSD; α set at 0.05) to the higher doses.

As shown in FIG. 7. Compound BB produces an anxiolytic effect in the novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) test in rats. Mean±SEM latency to eat in the Novelty-Induced Hypophagia (NIH) test in 2-3 month old male SD rats treated with Compound BB (1-100 μg/kg PO; blue circles) or sterile saline+0.5% Na-CMC vehicle (0 ml/kg PO; black circle) 1 h before a single 10-min test session. Animals were food deprived overnight before testing, and lab chow was placed into the center chamber of the open field during testing.

Example 10

The Bennett model of mechanical analgesia is used to assess the analgesic effects of compounds as measured by paw withdrawal threshold. Bennett G J, Xie Y K, “A peripheral mononeuropathy in rat that produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man,” Pain 33:87-107, 1988. Spared nerve injury surgery is performed on animals with testing for analgesic response once animals have recovered from surgery but still exhibit a low threshold of paw withdrawal after application of von frey filaments. Vehicle animals receive the surgery and then receive vehicle rather than test compound. Animals were tested 1 hr, 24 h and 1 wk post-test compound or vehicle administration.

Male 2-3 month old Sprague Dawley rats were used. Harlan was the supplier for all studies. Rats were housed in Lucite cages with aspen wood chip bedding, maintained on a 12:12 light:dark cycle (lights on at 5 AM), and given ad libitum access to Purina lab chow (USA) and tap water throughout the study.

Rats were anesthetized using inhaled isoflurane (2.5%). Spared nerve injury surgery was performed as previously described (Bennett and Xie, 1988). An incision (˜1.5 cm in length) was made with a scalpel blade dorsally through skin on the right hindlimb, parallel and posterior to femur. Using a small pointed hemostat, the biceps femoris and gluteus superficialis muscles were separated. Using curved blunt forceps, the common sciatic nerve was isolated and exposed. For the mechanical analgesia studies, the whole sciatic nerve was ligated. Using hemostats/forceps and chromic gut (5-0), the nerve was loosely ligated with a square knot; 3 ligatures, 1 mm apart were placed on the nerve. The ligatures were tightened to the point that the suture did not slide up or down the nerve. This protocol resulted in a partial loss-of-function of the nerve. For the thermal analgesia studies, the common peroneal and tibial branches of the sciatic nerve were ligated and cut, and the sural branch was spared. See Decosterd I, Woolf C J, “Spared nerve injury: an animal model of persistent peripheral neuropathic pain,” Pain 87:149-158, 2000. Testing occurred 1-2 weeks post-surgery.

During testing, rats were acclimated to the surface of a suspended wire mesh grid (1 cm×1 cm, with the wire being 0.3 cm in diameter) for 15-20 min. Starting from the smallest, each Von Frey filament was pressed perpendicularly to the plantar surface of the affected (ipsilateral) hindpaw until slightly bent and then held for 6 second. If an obvious hind paw withdrawal or a flinching behavior immediately after the withdrawal of the filament was not observed, the next larger filament was used in the same manner. In case of a response, a lower filament was used. This was repeated until six responses were collected.

Testing occurred 1 h post-dosing with Compound BB (0.1-10 mg/kg PO), gabapentin (150 mg/kg PO) or 0.5% Na-CMC in 0.9% sterile saline. Animals were retested 24 hrs and 1 week post-dosing. The results for Compound BB are shown in FIG. 8.

Example 11

A non-clinical in vivo pharmacology study (Porsolt assay) was performed to measure antidepressant-like effects. A negative control (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in 0.9% sterile saline vehicle) and a positive control (Compound C) were used to compare against Compound BB. The study allowed for the construction of a dose-response curve of the effects of each compound on the Porsolt forced swim test as assessed by the rats' response (reduced floating time) during a 5-minute swimming test.

Male 2-3 month old Sprague Dawley rats were used (Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind.). Rats were housed in Lucite cages with aspen wood chip bedding, maintained on a 12:12 light:dark cycle (lights on at 5 AM), and given ad libitum access to Purina lab chow (USA) and tap water throughout the study.

The Porsolt forced swim test adapted for use in rats was performed as described by Burgdorf et al., (The long-lasting antidepressant effects of rapastinel (GLYX-13) are associated with a metaplasticity process in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Neuroscience 308:202-211, 2015). Animals were placed in a 46 cm tall×20 cm in diameter clear glass tube filled to 30 cm with tap water (23±1° C.) for 15 min on the first day (habituation) and 5 min on the subsequent test day. Animals were tested 1 h post-dosing with the compound BB, positive control (Compound C, 10 μg/kg), or vehicle (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) in 0.9% sterile saline). Water was changed after every other animal. Animals were videotaped, and floating time as defined as the minimal amount of effort required to keep the animals head above water was scored offline by a blinded experimenter with high inter-rater reliability (Pearson's r >0.9).

The EC₅₀ was defined as the dose (or log linear interpolation of dose) that exhibited a half maximal effect (average of the vehicle and maximally efficacious dose) from a log (dose) linear plot. The maximally efficacious dose was defined as the lowest dose that was statistically different from vehicle but statistically equivalent (per Fisher's PLSD) to the higher doses.

The results for Compound BB are shown in FIG. 9A. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were dosed with Compound BB (1-100 μg/kg PO; blue circles or data points connected via lines), positive control Compound C (10 μg/kg PO; green circle or the data point at 10 μg/kg PO), or Na-CMC in 0.9% saline (1 ml/kg PO; black circles or data point at 1 ml/kg PO) 1 h before testing. Mean±SEM floating time in the rat Porsolt test is shown. Animals received a 15 min habituation session 1 day before the 5 min test, N=6-18 per group. As shown, Compound BB produces an antidepressant-like effect as measured by decreased floating time in the Porsolt test compared to vehicle group 1 h post-dosing.

Compound AA was assessed in a second set of animals at a single dose at 1 h post-administration and in a third set of animals at 24 h post-administration (FIG. 9B). Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were dosed with Compound AA (1 mg/kg PO), positive control Compound C (0.1 mg/kg PO) or Na-CMC in 0.9% saline (1 mL/kg PO) 1 h before testing or 24 h before testing. Mean±SEM floating time in the rat Porsolt test is shown. Animals received a 15 min habituation session 1 day before the 5 min test. N=9-12 per group. As shown in FIG. 9B. Compound AA produces a significant (p<0.05) antidepressant-like effect vs, vehicle as measured by decreased floating time in the Porsolt test compared with vehicle group 1 h post-dosing and at 24 h post-dosing.

Example 12

Assays were conducted as described in Zhang et al. (Zhang, X. L., Sullivan, J. A., Moskal., J. R., Stanton, P. K., 2008. A NMDA receptor glycine site partial agonist, GLYX-13, simultaneously enhances LTP and reduces LTD at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in hippocampus. Neuropharmacology, 55, 1238-50). See also Burgdorf, J, Zhang X L, Nicholson K L, Balster R L, Leander J D, Stanton P K, Gross A L, Kroes R A, Moskal J R (2013), GLYX-13, a NMDA receptor glycine-site functional partial agonist, induces antidepressant-like effects without ketamine-like side effects, Neuropsychopharmacology: official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 38:729-742. Sprague-Dawley rats (2-3 months old; Charles River) were deeply anesthetized with isoflurane and decapitated. Rat brains were removed rapidly, submerged in ice-cold artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF, 2-4° C.), which contained (in mM): 124 NaCl, 4 KCl, 2 MgSO₄, 2 CaCl₂, 1.25 NaH₂PO₄, 26 NaHCO₃, 10 glucose; at pH 7.4, gassed continuously with 95% O₂/5% CO₂). The rat brains were hemisected, the frontal lobes cut off, and individual hemispheres glued using cyanoacrylate adhesive onto a stage immersed in ice-cold ACSF gassed continuously with 95% O₂/5% CO₂ during slicing. Coronal slices (400 μm thick) were cut using a Vibratome (Leica VT1200S), and transferred to an interface holding chamber for incubation at room temperature for a minimum of one hour before transferring to a Haas-style interface recording chamber continuously perfused at 3 ml/min with oxygenated ACSF at 32±0.5° C. Low resistance recording electrodes were made from thin-walled borosilicate glass (1-2 MΩ after filling with ACSF) and inserted into the apical dendritic region of the Schaffer collateral termination field in stratum radiatum of field CA1 region to record field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs). A bipolar tungsten ystimulating electrode (FHC Co.) was placed on Schaffer collateral-commissural fibers in CA3 stratum radiatum, and constant current stimulus intensity adjusted to evoke approximately half-maximal fEPSPs once each 30 s (50-100 pA; 100 μs duration). fEPSP slope was measured before and after induction of LTP by linear interpolation from 20 to 80% of maximum negative deflection, and slopes confirmed to be stable to within ±10% for at least 15 min before commencing an experiment. Bath application of the test compound (100 nm, 500 nm, 2 μM) or CSF vehicle was continuously bath applied beginning 20 min prior to application of Schaffer collateral stimulus trains to elicit LTP. LTP was induced by stimulation of Schaffer collateral axons with two high frequency theta burst stimulus trains of 10×100 Hz/5 pulse bursts each, applied at an inter-burst interval of 200 ms. Each train was 2 seconds in duration, and trains were applied 3 minutes apart. The signals were recorded using a Multiclamp 700B amplifier and digitized with a Digidata 1322 (Axon Instruments, USA).

As shown in FIG. 10, Compound BB increased long-term potentiation after high frequency stimulation of rat Schaffer collateral-evoked NMDA fEPSPs recorded in CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Example 13

The table below shows comparative in-vivo binding data for wild-type NMDAR2 subtypes in the presence of Compound AA, Compound BB, tert-butyl (R)-2-((2S,3R)-1-amino-3-hydroxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octane-5-carboxylate (Compound W), tert-butyl (S)-2-((2S,3R)-1-amino-3-hydroxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octane-5-carboxylate (Compound X), (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((R)-5-isobutyryl-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanamide (Compound Y), or (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((S)-5-isobutyryl-1-oxo-2,5-diazaspiro[3,4]octan-2-yl)butanamide (Compound Z).

NMDAR2A BINDING PROFILE NMDAR2B BINDING PROFILE % 1 mM % 1 mM Compound −logEC₅₀ Glycine Conclusion −logEC₅₀ Glycine Conclusion Compound AA −10 38.8 WT2A agonist 0 0 WT2B no activity Compound BB 0 0 WT2A no −12.61 76.3 WT2B agonist activity Compound W −11.35 18.33 WT2A agonist −8.976 53.09 WT2B agonist Compound X −12.01 41.04 WT2A agonist −9.833 59.55 WT2B agonist Compound Y −11.05 61.76 WT2A agonist −13.36 70.74 WT2B agonist Compound Z −10.06 42.5 WT2A agonist −13 70.49 WT2B agonist

NMDAR2C BINDING PROFILE NMDAR2D BINDING PROFILE % 1 mM % 1 mM Compound −logEC₅₀ Glycine Conclusion −logEC₅₀ Glycine Conclusion Compound AA −10 67 WT2C agonist −10.8 52 WT2D agonist Compound BB 0 0 WT2C no −10.25 57.41 WT2D agonist activity Compound W −9.839 67.5 WT2C agonist −11.15 66.72 WT2D agonist Compound X −12.9 59.73 WT2C agonist −11.88 93.58 WT2D agonist Compound Y −11.44 64.24 WT2C agonist −9.999 54.85 WT2D agonist Compound Z −11.5 47.76 WT2C agonist −11.22 65.32 WT2D agonist

EQUIVALENTS

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The entire contents of all patents, published patent applications, websites, and other references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound having formula I:

or a stereoisomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R^(S) is C₁-C₃ alkyl; w is 0, 1 or 2; R^(b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆ alkyl; and R² is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein R^(b) is hydrogen.
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein R¹ is hydrogen.
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein R² is hydrogen.
 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein w is
 2. 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein R^(S) is methyl.
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound has the formula:

wherein R^(b), R¹ and R² are as defined in claim
 1. 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8, suitable for oral administration.
 10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8, suitable for intravenous, intranasal, subcutaneous, and/or sublingual administration. 